Electromagnetic interposer mechanism



Dec. 13, 1966 A. B. PATAKI ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERPOSER MECHANISM FiledDec. 29, 1965 CONTROL I I I AGENT United States Patent C) 3,291,388ELEIITROMAGNETIC INTERPOSER MECHANISM Andrew B. Pataki, Lansdale, Pa.,assignor to Sperry Rand Qorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Dec. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 517,289 8 Claims. (Cl. 234-115)This invention relates to electromagnetic interposer mechanisms which,while of broader applicability, are particularly useful for controllingrandomly actuated devices, such as punches.

The invention is characterized by its improved and economicalconstruction and operation as compared to known prior art devices.

Briefly described the invention comprises an interposer operable betweeninoperative and operative positions by reciprocating electromagneticmeans, or held inoperative by fixed electromagnetic means.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a punch mechanismembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show operational conditions of the electromagnets;

FIG. 6 is a motion diagram; and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment, the invention comprises apair of electromagnets 10 and 12, a punch mechanism 14 and a lightweight interposer assembly 16.

Electromagnet 10 comprises a coil 18 wrapped around the base 20 of aninverted U-shaped core having long and short depending legs 22 and 24respectively, the core being suitably attached to fixed structure 26 forsupport. Electromagnet 12 is positioned beneath electromagnet 10 andcomprises a coil 28 wrapped about the base 30 of a U-shaped core havingupwardly extending short and long legs 32 and 34, respectively. The coreis suitably secured to a carriage block 36 slidably mounted on fixedstructure 38 for oscillating movements, left and right as see-n here, asby a cam 40 fixed to shaft 42. Rotation of shaft 42 is by motor meansnotshown. Th carriage 36 is held in contact with the cam by springmeans, such as the coil spring 44, having one end attached to thecarriage at 46 and its other end attached to a collar 48 freely mountedon shaft 42.

The electromagnets are closely spaced and have a common armature 50positioned between the short legs 24 and 32 thereof. The armature is ofsufficient length to bridge the gap between the legs of eitherelectromagnet. It is fixed to and supported in its operative positionadjacent to but spaced from its left hand end by a flexible but selfsupporting element 52, such as a piano wire. The left end of the wire isslidably captured in grooves 54 formed in the lower end of long leg 22of electromagnet 10 and the upper end of long leg 34 of electromagnet12, as by removable plastic plugs 56 (see FIG. 2) which fit tightly overthe ends of the legs. The wire extends to the right and has theinterposer 58 fixed to its right hand end and resting on a striker bar60 for movement to and from its punch operating position between thestriker bar and the punch 62 which is slidably mounted in betweenfriction retaining pads 63 in the punch block 64.

When the interposer is in its extended operative position, as shown inFIG. 1, the striker tbar moves the punch upwardly through the card path64 into the punch die 66 to effect a punching operation, as on the card68. The striker bar is moved through a punch cycle by drive link ICC 70with each rotation of an eccentric 72 by suitable means, not shown, butall in accordance with well known practice. Punch 62 may be retained inits operative conditions in any suitable manner, such as that describedin assignees Romeo et al. patent application Serial Number 410,217,filed November 10, 1964, for Record Perforating Device. Or, it may be asshown in FIG. 1, wherein the striker bar 60 is provided with an invertedL shaped arm 73, the horizontal stripper foot 74 of which extends into anotch 75 in the side of the punch.

In its operation: shaft 42 with its cam 40 is rotated continuously tooscillate carriage 36 and electromagnet 12 between extended andretracted positions whereby interposer 58 may be moved between itsoperative and inoperative positions relative to punch 62 and striker bar60; eccentric 72 is rotated continuously to reciprocate the striker barbetween its extended and retracted positions; and one of the coils 18 or28 of electromagnets 10 and 12 is always energized, as shown in FIG. 7.Normally, with a no punch instruction, coil 18 is energized to holdarmature 50 (FIGS 3 and 4) and consequently interposer 58 in itsinoperative retracted position. Electromagnet 12 is deenergized,therefore its oscillations by cam 40 will have no etfect upon theinterposer assembly 16.

Now, if a signal or instruction, either manual or by Way of a controldevice, such as indicated by the box 76 in FIG. 7, gives a punchinstruction, the actuator 77 opens switch 78 breaking circuit 80 to coil18 and closes switch 82 making circuit 84 to coil 28. Armature 50 isreleased from electromagnet 10 and is picked up by electromagnet 12 whenit reaches its retracted position with the low side 86 of cam 40 againstthe left sidewall of carriage 36. Subsequent rotation of the cam 40 toits high side 88 urges the carriage 36 to the right moving theelectromagnet 12 and armature 50 to their advanced position (FIG. 5)carrying interposer 58 to its operative position between punch 62 andstriker bar 60 while the eccentric is almost fully retracted.

The high side 88 of cam 40 is formed on a substantially constant radiusthrough a suificient angle to hold the interposer in its operativeposition throughout a punch cycle. The timing of this cycle isillustrated in FIG. 6. At position A (0) on this figure, cam 40 startsrotating from the center of its low dwell side 86 and the eccentric fromits low position, shown in broken line in FIG. 1. At position B thecam-as indicated by line Wreaches its high dwell portion 88, fullyadvancing the interposer just prior to its con-tactline Xwith the bottomof the punch-line Yat position C. The end of the stripper foot 74lineZ-is now riding free in punch notch 75. At 180 (position D) theeccentric completes the punch portion of its cycle (FIG. 1) and thestriker bar and interposer start downwardly. At position E the strippercloses the gap between its lower edge and the bottom of notch 75 andcarries the punch downwardly with it to its retracted position. Also atposition E there is clearance between the bottom of the punch and theinterposer so that the interposer is free to be retracted beginning atposition F. All elements continue to their fully retracted position at H(360") to complete the cycle.

The movement of electromagnet 12 is adjusted to eliminate impact of thearmature with the long legs of the cores thereby eliminating the needfor plating or hardening of these parts. The ends of short legs 24 and32 of the cores may be coated with a suitable anti-friction material 90to prevent wear as a result of their sliding relationship with thearmature 50.

It will be understood from the above that by selective energization ofcoils 18 and 28 during operation of the mechanism, either a no punc or apunc cycle may be effected in any order.

Thus, it can be seen that by reason of the small inertia involved that asignificant high speed operation may be attained with no bounce uponreaching either interposer position. Because of the elimination ofimpact and the easy interchangeability of parts, less expensiveconstruction is provided. Also, less expensive operation is attainedthrough its compact arrangement, and its small power consumption; theelectromagnets are used only for holding after the armature is in closedposition.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An electromagnetic interposer mechanism comprising:

(A) a first electromagnet;

(B) a second electromagnet;

(C) a common armature for said first and second electromagnets;

(D) an interposer fixed to said armature;

(E) means for elfecting relative movement between said electromagnets;and

(F) means for selectively energizing said electromagnets whereby saidarmature may be retained by one or the other thereof during saidrelative movement, and said interposer may be moved thereby selectivelybetween retracted and advanced, inoperative and operative positions.

2. An interposer mechanism according to claim 1 and further including:

(A) means supporting said first electromagnet in a fixed position; and

(B) means mounting said second electromagnet for oscillating movementsrelative to said first electromagnet whereby said interposer is movedbetween its inoperative and operative positions.

3. Interposer mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said electromagnetscomprise:

(A) opposing U-shaped cores; and

(B) an electrical coil wrapped around the base of each core; and wherein(C) said armature is of suflicient length to bridge the gap between theends of each core thereby to provide a magnetic circuit through the corewhen the coil is energized magnetically to lock the armature selectivelyeither to the fixe'd or to the movable electromagnet whereby saidinterposer may be held in its retracted inoperative position or moved toits extended operative condition.

4. An interposer mechanism according to claim 3 wherein:

(A) said interposer is connected to said armature by a self supportingbut flexible element for movement transverse to its direction ofmovement by said movable electromagnet.

5. A construction according to claim 4 wherein:

(A) each of said cores includes a short leg and a long leg, the shortlegs both being positioned between the long legs; and wherein (B) saidflexible element comprises a flexible wire, one end of said wire havingsaid interposer fixed thereto and its other end having said armaturefixed thereto with portions of said wire on each side of said armaturepassing through and slidably supported in the ends of said long corelegs.

6. A construction according to claim 5 wherein:

(A) the ends of said long legs are slotted to receive said wire; and

(B) means are provided to plug said slots to retain said wire therein.

7. In combination with an interposer constructed in accordance withclaim 1:

(A) a punch mechanism, comprising:

(1) a punch positioned adjacent one side of said interposer;

(2) a striker positioned on the opposite side of said interposer andupon which said interposer rests; and

(3) means for cycling said striker to move said interposer transverselyto the direction of movement of said interposer by said secondelectromagnet through a punch or no punch cycle, depending upon theposition of said interposer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for effectingrelative movement between said electromagnets (E in claim 1) comprises:

(A) cam means having a high dwell portion to hold said interposer in itsoperative position for a period sufiicient to permit punching during apunch cycle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM S.LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERPOSER MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A FIRSTELECTROMAGNET; (B) A SECOND ELECTROMAGNET; (C) A COMMON ARMATURE FORSAID FIRST AND SECOND ELECTROMAGNETS; (D) AN INTERPOSER FIXED TO SAIDARMATURE; (E) MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAIDELECTROMAGNETS; AND (F) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SAIDELECTROMAGNETS WHEREBY SAID ARMATURE MAY BE RETAINED BY ONE OR THE OTHERTHEREOF DURING SAID RELATIVE MOVEMENT, AND SAID INTERPOSER MAY BE MOVEDTHEREBY SELECTIVELY BETWEEN RETRACTED AND ADVANCED, INOPERATIVE ANDOPERATIVE POSITIONS.